COMMERCIAL. Herald Office, Monday. On Thursday afternoon last a thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain*and vivid light ning passed over the town. Each succeeding week now brings 'beautiful showers, which are working a wonderful effect 'upon vege tation in the surrounding' country. Every where a marked change, is plainly ^notice able ; and exposed land thaf, »a short time ago, was void of every particle of moist sub stance, now wears a refreshing green appear ance.' Certainly the grass, with bleak winter so close upon us, cannot attain any degree of luxuriance, but its promising appearance speaks plainly of the fine growing weather now experienced, and consequent favour ableness to winter crops. An advance of 3d. has taken place in the price of wheat during the week, 5/6 now being the quotation. Oats have fallen 3d. and are selling at 5/6. A correspondent writing from Goulburn says :— Now, sir, I dont know if' you have fallen into the same error (ai* all events to niy mind' it is on...

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS BY CABLE. ! [from the daily papers.] ?? ; ? London, May 8. The colonial wool sales opened this evening. Upwards of 7000 bales were offered, and. Port Phillip wools predominated. The attend ance of both home and foreign buyers was large, and the biddings commenced with great spirit ; but prices, as. compared with last series, show 'a decline of 10 per 'cent. ^ ' May 11. Turkish accounts state that the . . 4* Russians attempted to cross the Danube at Beni, a commercial port near the mouth of the, Pruth,/ but were defeated ' with great loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. «» ' - May 12. . The Government has declined to ' take any action towards the establishment of a colonial museum this- year. r' \ v ' ; Tlie Brmdisi portion of the Aus tralian mail per E. M. S. Banga lore was delivered in London on the 7th instant. W ool.— There was good compe tition at the opening of the pre sent series of sales. Prices, how ever, ruled about 10 per , cent, lower. 'Wheat.— The ...

CORRESPONDENCE. (to the editor.) Sir, — What a comfort ! What a source of gratification it must be to the people of Cootamundra and the whole district to learn by the last issue of your journal that our Pioneer has been able by the aid of his friends to pay the full amount of fine (viz., £1/7/-) imposed upon him in the late case Moore v. Barnes, for insulting language ! It is a well known fact that however grave or rascally a charge may be brought against a man, he can always find others of his own class to sympathise with him ; and who may 'or may not have one shilling in their pockets to defray his expenses; but ?who, if called upon to subscribe one shilling and sixpence , would probably find it incon venient to-do so. For this reason, I pre sume, it 'was necessary for Mr. Barnes to seek twenty-seven of his friends. Mr. Barnes cannot be otherwise than * elated to know that he has twenty-seven friends each of whom possesses one shilling ; but why did he not mention the names of the...

LATEST NEWS FROM SYDNEY. ( From our Telegraphic Correspondent. J Sydney, 2.40 p.m. A great fire occured at Manly. Beach last night. Five large houses on the esplanade were burnt down. Good cattle range ten shillings higher than last week. . Sheep are in large supply, prices slightly lower. Maize is down to three shillings. There is not much wool coming forward. THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Constantinople has been placed in a state of siege. Russian 'troops in Eoumania are moving westwards towards Seryia. Eighty-five thousand men are con centrated in upper and middle portions of Roumania.. The Khedive 'helps Turkey.

CUCUMLA RACES. These races came off at Cassera's Farmers' Hotel on the 24th instant, Queen's Birthday. There was not a very large Attendance either of horses or spectators ; and, consequently, nothing very exciting occurred. The weather was bleak, and extremely unfavourable. Following is a brief detailed account of the events on the programme : — 1st Race. Maiden Plate, of 3 sovs., for horses to be approved of by the Stewards; one mile. Mr. J. J. Carney's b.g.. Cowong ? 1 T. Brigg's p.g. Patchwork .... 2 Two horses only started, and Cowong won easily. 2nd Race. Farmers' Purse, 6f 3 sovs., for all horses that have never won a prize exceed ing 3 sovs. ; mile heats. Mr. J. J. Carney's b.g. Cowong ..... 1 Mr. .Brigg's Patchwork was entered, but his owner ; declined to accept the handicap ; : and Cowong did a walk-over for the prize. 3rd Race. Hurry Scurry, of 2 sovs., for all hacks to be approved by the Stewards. j Mr. Brigg's Patchwork ? 1 F. Quinlan's Creamy ? ? ? 2 . j J. Dawson's Di...

A communication from the 'Works De partment forwarded by Mr. Leary, 'which we hereafter print, states that .tenders have been called for the erection of. a new Court-house ip. Cootamundra, lenders to be received up to the 12th June. ' ' We thinU 'there is some mistake about this matter; : On searching the Gazette we have iound that tenders — received up to the same date, viz., 12th June, are invited for the erection of Police Barracks ; and an advertisement will be soon found -in our issue to the same effect : but we can find no trace of tenders being called for the erection of a new Court-hbuse. The letter is as follows : — ' Department of Public Works, ' Sydney, 19th May, 1877. Sir, — Referring to your personal repre sentations on the subject, I am directed to inform you that tenders for, the erection of a Court-house at Cootamundra in your elector ate have been invited, and mil be received until the 12th June -next. — I have, &amp;c., * 'JohnRae. C£ Joseph Leary, Esq.' In ref...

STEAM SAW |j|ga| MILLS, IEONBUNG. TILE undersigned, beg '4o inform the in habitants ctt/9^ctamundra, and sur rounding district slfchat they are now pre pared to execute (orders to any amoiuit. N.B. — A TIMBER-YARD win be kept at Barnes's Albion Hotel, where timber of all dimensions may be had. {£?* Orders left with Messrs. Barnes or Mr. Tebay will receive prompt attention. T. TEBAY G. WILLITS. Wallendbeen Agency. MR. Irwin Smith, jun., is the authorised Agent for the Cootamundra Herald for Wallendbeen and surrounding district, whose receipt will be sufficient for moneys paid on our behalf. BROWN &amp; PINKSTONE, Proprietors. HOLLOWAlfSJIHTMEHT. Universal Patronage. LET all sufferers from general or local diseases take heart and follow in the wake of thousands who ascribe their restora tion to he.alth to the use of Holloway's Oint ment and Pills. Rheumatism in the muscles or joints, gouty pains, neuralgic tortures, cramps and spasmodk^iwitches depart under the employment 01 fcabs...

OPENING OE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. On Monday, 21st instant, in the presence of the Local Board and a few friends, together with fifty-eight children, Mr. R.. A. Murray School Inspector for the Dis trict, by request of the Board and; as representing the Council of- Education, formally opened our new Public School. The children had assembled at the old building, where they went through their usual morning lessons ; and were after wards marched by their teacher, Mr. M'Carthy, to the new school. Mr. R. Jones, in the absence of the chairman of the Board, was voted to the chair. He said he was happy to be in a position to congratulate .the children on having provided for them such ( a handsome building as that in which they were now assembled. In spite of . draw backs to their learning and the un pleasantness of the old schoolhouse which they had had to bear with, they doubtless felt, on leaving the old building, as if they should like to have given it a part ing cheer, the omission of which i...

POETRY. . I WHO' SHALL IT BE P [A RICH man who had no children proposed to his poor neighbour, who had seven, to take one of them, and promised, if the parents would consent, that ho would give them property enough to make themselves and. their other six children comfortable for ' life.] ?' 'Which shall it be ? Which shall it be ? I looked at' John — John looked at me, And. when I found that I must speak, My voice seemed strangely low and«weak. ' Tell me again what Robert said . And. then I, listening, bent my head. ' This is his letter : — V ' ' I will give A house and land while you shall live, If, in return, from out your seven, One child, to me for aye is given.' ' I looked at John's old garment worn ; I thought of all that he had. borne , Of poverty, and work, and care, Which I, though willing, could not share ; I thought of seven young mouths to feed, Of seven little children's need,' And then of this. ' Come John,' said I, ' We'll choose among them as they lie Asleep.' So, wa...

.VIGILANCE COMMITTEE. Menutes of meeting held on Tuesday! evening, 18th instant. Mr. Jones in the chair. The minutes of preceding meetings not being completed, their confirmation was de- j forred. ' ? JBland-road :— Mr. Matthews moved and ? Mr. J. Barnes seconded ' That Messrs. E. Barnes and Pinlcstohe be a sub-committee to draw up a petition and forward it to the Bland for signature, praying for the proper _ allignment of the road and the placing of it in a condition for traffic.' (Carried). . Court-house for Cootamundra: — Pro- posed ; by Mr. Matthews, seconded by Mr. E. Barnes ' That the secretary write to the Minister for Works (through Mr. Leary) requesting that the sum of £2000 'be placed on the Estimates for the erection of a Court house in the township of' Cootamundra.' (Carried). * Vote tor Recreation-ground :— The secretary was instructed 'to write to Mr. Leary asking him to let the committee know when the sum of £100 already on the Esti mates as a re-vote was available. -...